So recently all the homestay applicants got an email basically asking us if we’re really sure that we wouldn’t rather stay in the Seminar Houses. Apparently they have more applicants than homestay families, so if some of us don’t change our mind by July 10 they’ll have to decide who gets a homestay by ballot.
These are the guidelines they gave us; if we fit one or more of these categories we should think about not doing a homestay.
1. You feel more comfortable being alone.
Well, this one’s true for me, but staying in a foreign country isn’t about my comfort. To get better at Japanese I’m going to spend these 4 months trying to change my loner ways 
2. You may put high priority on being with friends, rather than on spending time with your family.
Nope, I’ll balance things.
3. You are very independent, and do not wish to be asked your schedule or whereabouts every day.
I still live with my parents at home, so I’m used to being under some restrictions.
4. You have a strong food allergy or restriction.
Nope.
5. You must have access to computer/internet at home.
It’s nice, but not a must.
6. You do not wish to commute for about one hour (each way)
The somewhat rare times I take the bus to uni I have to leave home nearly an hour before class. Plus I have a thing for well-run public transport, so I’ll actually enjoy commuting.
~@~
In other words, I’m still really certain that I want to stay with a homestay family. (Or as sure as I ever was – I mean, the dorms would possibly be easier in many ways? – But I would make a shitty roommate, and I don’t think I could live 4 months with someone who hated me)
In the same email, they had a link to a website: At Home in Japan, about what it’s really like to stay in a homestay situation. I’ve read through it, and it has a lot of information that it’ll be good to know going in, about different cultural expectations and things like that.
Reading it really made me appreciate how good the host family were that I spent four nights with last time I was in Japan. They were absolutely awesome to me, even though I was an obnoxious teenager and barely tried to speak any Japanese because I was too shy. If I could spend four months with them and do it properly this time, I’d jump at the chance.
Good you don’t fit into those… I do, but I chose dorm.
1. You feel more comfortable being alone.:
I don’t like being alone, I like being with my friends and people who are like my age to have fun. But usually in a housing situation, unless the family had someone my age, I may prefer to be alone unless we find something in common to do together.
2. You may put high priority on being with friends, rather than on spending time with your family.:
Yeah… that’s me… exactly.
3. You are very independent, and do not wish to be asked your schedule or whereabouts every day.:
I live at home too, like you, and use to being asked what my schedule is. But unlike you I want to get away from that.
4. You have a strong food allergy or restriction.:
I’m actually somewhat picky (I don’t like seafood), more choosy than anything (I eat what I crave that day, sometimes I don’t eat what my parents cook for dinner because I just don’t want it), and I have a mild lactose intolerance.
5. You must have access to computer/internet at home.
Yes.
6. You do not wish to commute for about one hour (each way)
I wouldn’t mind… I love Japan’s transportation. But in the morning I may not enjoy waking up extra early… and being far away from the people I’ve made friends with who are in the dorms will make me sad.
Me… I’m dorm
lol I’m going to tough it out. For:
1. Heh…I do appreciate my alone time, but I can have that deep into the night since I’m a night owl.
2. I enjoy spending most of my time with my mom. I can deal with not being with buds all the time…though I am so HANGING OUT WITH YOU GUYS!
3. Uh…I am independent, but since I live with my mom…I can deal.
4. No allergies to note. :3 Please have a bathroom handy after milk consumption though. Just in case. lol
5. I would DEFINITELY prefer this. Buuuuut…I can just steal a comp at the uni and be fine.
6. I already commute to school everyday. It’s tiresome, but hopefully with transport, I’ll be cool.
I’m just very wary of being around other people in such intimate spaces. o.o